Joaquin Niemann outlasted Sergio Garcia nicely after sundown Sunday within the season-opening LIV Golf Mayakoba, making a 12-foot birdie putt from the perimeter on the fourth gap of a playoff with the inexperienced lit by a big video display screen.
Niemann gained his first LIV Golf title two days after opening with a 12-under 59 — and a day after having two penalty strokes tacked onto his second-round rating for taking incorrect reduction on a drop from a cart path on the thirteenth gap.
That left the 25-year-old Chilean two photographs forward getting into the ultimate spherical. He closed with a 1-under 70, parring the ultimate two holes to match Garcia at 12-under 201 at El Camaleon. Garcia parred the ultimate three holes of regulation in a 66.
Niemann had putts to win on the par-4 18th in regulation and once more on the primary two further journeys down the outlet, then survived on the third playoff gap when Garcia missed a 10-foot birdie attempt.
Niemann and Garcia determined to play another gap within the fading mild, and Garcia gave Niemann an enormous opening when he left his strategy from the green nicely proper in deep tough. The 44-year-old Spanish participant’s flop shot raced by the fitting edge, and Niemann adopted with the winner within the longest playoff within the Saudi-funded league’s three-year historical past.
Nieman gained the Australian Open in December with an eagle in a playoff in opposition to Rikuya Hoshino.
Masters champion Jon Rahm, the largest identify to signal with LIV Golf league throughout the offseason, tied for third at 10 below in his tour debut.
Tied for the lead with two holes left, Rahm closed with two bogeys for a 70. He drove left into hassle on the seventeenth and located a fairway bunker off the tee on 18.
The Spanish star did lead Legion XIII to the staff title, 4 strokes forward of Bryson DeChambeau-led Crushers GC.
Dean Burmester additionally was 10 below after a 70. Defending champion Charles Howell III (68) tied for fifth at 8 below with Dustin Johnson (67) and Brooks Koepka (68).
The tour is headed to Las Vegas for an occasion that begins Thursday.